trudging across the tundra
mile after mile
Yesterday I went out on a saunter with a friend of mine.
Well, since this is the guy I’m going to Africa with and who is financing the trip, it was more like “Let’s see how long before we have to call in medevac for the old fat guy”.
The idea was to park at the Kickapoo state recreation area and hike up the Vermillion River. We figure it went about seven miles, all told, and it waqs through some pretty rugged terrain. We ended up having to ford at more than one place, and my Danners held me in good stead (which reminds me, I need to get them aired out and the dried mud scraped off)
Speaking of which, the Danners were perfect. Thanks to Chris Byrne and all the folks who suggested them; they fit me perfectly and gave me the support I needed, and are the perfect hiking boot. I may have to get a cold weather set when my Sorels finally bite the dust.
Anyway, I managed to do the whole trek, incluiding a half dozen rips up and down bluffs easily 100 foot high, (yes, not all of Illinois is flat as a board) and my guide was the only person who needed assistance (didn’t eat before the hike, and his blood sugar crashed)
Luckily I had a can of pineapple and he was in good nick in a few minutes- but he ended up handing HIS pack off to one of his boys.
Pack- oh yeah. I packed in the following items, bottom to top:
Sleeping bag
Hoodie
change of clothes
Two changes of socks
Fourteen hundred pairs of underwear (you go through a lot of them, sliding facefirst down a 100 foot bluff)
six D cell Maglite (weapon. Not legal to carry firearms in state parkland)
first aid kit
food for four for three days (tinned beans and meat, tinned pineapple, freeze dried foods, water)
plastic bags
rope- 100 feet
and about another ten pounds of assorted stuff totalling 45 lbs. I dragged this pack through hell, and made it, while the old hands struggled with shoulder bags full of water.
I’m a little proud of myself.
And more than a little sore.
18 comments Og | Uncategorized
As I guy that grew up in West Central Indiana and East Central Illinois, I ready many of your posts with a mixture of pride and freaked-outness. I trod these same trails as a sprat. Prolly couldn’t now. Good on ya.
Nothing to do with the post, just entertainment:
Remember those emails like “Why Women Live Longer”? Well I was just driving home from the gas station, up Alt 40. I saw a big old dump truck with the front lifted 20 feet off the gound by an old front loader. I thought to myself, no they aren’t that stupid. As I drove by I saw two guys standing way back by the rear axle, working on the truck. Should go back to get a picture, but I really don’t care that much.
Walk naturally, never forced, keep a constant watch to your rear. Take your time, take in all of the views and area, watch the trees, ridges, heavy brush pockets, and listen closely. Become a part of the terrain.
Wait… You’re doing this for fun. Forget it.
actually great advice anyway.
Dang, that equipment list reminds me of my D&D days. You had everything a dungeon-crawler needs except a 10-foot pole.
Cool.
Good for you.
I on the other hand, would have been on a horse. If God wanted me to walk he’d have given me four legs instead of two and split me up the middle so I could set astraddle of a horse. :)
RD, there were horse trails. Most fo the places we went, a horse couldn’t get. And I know what a horse can do.
I only had 40 lbs on me this weekend, and the goat trails almost killed me. I had to keep calling WeetJr to wait for me.
You met him at the NoR shoot, but he’s much bigger now.
socks..lots of socks. Enough to change at least three times a day..wet feet go bad a lot faster than dry feet..and wet feet and dirty socks are asking for trouble.
I would rather have the clean socks than the clean underwear..I can hike out on good feet and dirty underwear but it is tough to scoot out on ones butt..even in clean underwear…
I do loves me some dry socks, Guy, and everyone was jealous when I pulled mine out at the end of the hike and slipped them on my powdered, dry feet.
Uh, Africa!?? Did you say you’re going to Africa?
Shoes for industry, compadre.
what you mean, yojimbo?
Dry socks? Pussy… Lmao!
Yep. Thass me.
What, no 10′ pole and dozen iron stakes?
(Gamer joke.)
(And I see now that Ed beat me to it, and I didn’t catch it in a quick scan.)
[…] First of all, I have to say once again that the reccomends I got from Chris Byrne for boots (Danner Desert Acadia) Time was, I wore my “work” shoes to mow. Translation: Old street shoes, too worn to polish up anymore. Lots of times I took the laces out, to make it easier to get in and out of them in a hurry. And consequently, it killed my feet and legs. See, I would have to spend a whole lot of time worrying about my footing, wiht sloppy, loose fitting shoes, and it made mowing that much harder. And with a decent pair of boots, it’s (literally) a no brainer. As the boots held me in good stead on my hike, I’m inclined to get another pair for work, and wonder if I can get street shoes from Danner. […]